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Are there some weeks you just don't have a lot of extra money to spend on groceries?

With a few key recipes, using mostly ingredients that are already in your pantry, you can still make a nice family dinner without a lot of money.

Eating at home is more economical than the drive-thru window - you get more meals for your money.

For those times you are trying to stretch a buck, here are a few recipes:

The first is from Martha White:



EASY PICKIN' CHICKEN PIE

Filling:

3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 1/3 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 (10 1/4 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease shallow 2-quart baking dish. Spread chicken and vegetables evenly in bottom.

In medium bowl, combine soup, broth and pepper; mix well. Pour evenly over chicken mixture. In another medium bowl, combine flour and milk; stir until smooth. Add butter; stir just until blended. Pour over chicken mixture.

Bake at 400 for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Here are three from Pat Means of Grand Saline. They are in her new book "Tastes from the Country:"

BURRITO CASSEROLE

1 pound ground beef
1 medium can chili
1 can refried beans
Shredded Cheddar cheese
10 to 12 tortillas
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown beef in skillet. Drain. Heat chili.

Add refried beans to meat. Mix well. Put meat mixture into tortillas, about 2 to 3 tablespoons per tortilla.

Roll up. Pour chili over tortillas after filled. Top with Cheddar cheese.

Bake until cheese melts and casserole is hot through and through.

CHICKEN AND DRESSING

1 fryer or 4 chicken breast with bones and skin
1 (9-inch by 13-inch pan) baked corn bread
1 large onion, chopped
1 package hot dog buns, plus 5 slices bread
4 or more teaspoons rubbed sage
6 to 7 boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
Chopped celery (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Boil chicken. Reserve broth. De-bone chicken and remove skin. Cut into bite-sized pieces. In large bowl, crumble corn bread, hot dog buns and bread. Add onions, salt, pepper and sage. Add broth. Mix well. Add eggs and chicken. Extra water can be added if needed. Pour all into pan or divide into different sized pans for freezing. Bake in 350-degree oven until lightly brown on top.

FRIED BANANAS

6 firm ripe bananas, sliced lengthwise
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 or more tablespoons shortening

Mix flour and cinnamon. Coat each piece of banana with flour and cinnamon mixture. If bananas are very long, you may prefer to quarter them. Heat shortening in medium-sized skillet. Carefully lay bananas in hot shortening. Brown on one side and then slowly turn them over once. Remove to heated platter. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired or eat as is.

For next week, send recipes that are easy on your budget.

If you have a request or would like to share a recipe, write to Readers' Swap, Tyler Morning Telegraph, P.O. Box 2030, Tyler, 75710 or e-mail food@tylerpaper.com.